Storybrooke. Cafe "Granny's"
A knight entered the cafe and, noticing Regina, went straight to the table where she was sitting.
— Your Majesty, — the knight said with a bow. — I have a report for you.
— Good. Now let's go to the palace, you will report there. Or something urgent?
— No. It's about the holiday, — said the knight.
— Yes! — Regina lightly slapped her forehead. — I completely forgot, David is preparing a holiday for Valentine's Day. Rumpel, will you and Belle stay?
— I don't even know, I need to look for my daughter.
— Rumpel. One day will solve nothing! — Regina looked at Mr. Gold. — I'd be glad if you'd stay.
— If only for one day,— Mr. Gold sighed. — Apparently, my fate is to look for my children all over the worlds.
Regina squeezed his shoulder sympathetically and, she nodded to the knight, left the cafe with him.
— Grandfather, — said Henry, — Let me help. And Lucy is eager to fight.
— Aren't you tired of adventures yet, my friend? Mr. Gold patted his grandson's hand. — Thanks, but I have to do it myself. Tell me better, is the hotel still functioning?
— Of course! Let me at least pay for the room, — Henry smiled. — At least I'll help.
— I don't think that's right, — Belle said.
— Come on, it's not difficult for me. Besides, I don't think you have any money with you,— Henry winked. — Ruby! Are there any available rooms? We need to settle one couple.
— Yes,— Ruby said. — The fourth is free. Will you take it?
Mr. Gold smiled, spread his hands and nodded in agreement.
"Welcome to Storybrooke"
Alex closed her eyes, counted to ten and opened them again — the sign was in place. She touched him again - he was hard, tangible. She turned to the car and noticed an almost erased line drawn with paint.
"When you cross the line, the first thing you do is go to cafe "Granny's"- Sidney's words were confirmed again. First the bridge, then the sign, and now the line! It was strange, because Sidney's words are something illogical and wild. Alex wanted to cry. And according to Sidney, her mother… A sorceress? Does magic also exist?
"So, pull yourself together and go," the young girl ordered herself. "Maybe there is no cafe. And if there is, it does not mean that there is magic here. If the city exists, it does not mean that everything else exists!"
Having calmed herself in this way, the girl got behind the wheel again and drove on. And yet, just in case, she wrapped her face with a scarf, you never know.
"Nice little town," Alex said as she drove through the city.
She reduce speed, looked around and suddenly noticed a neon sign. The girl almost crashed into the mailbox when she was braking. The sign read, "Granny's" and the arrow pointed to the entrance.
"I'm just going crazy," Alex muttered, "or I'm lying in a hospital room after a knockout. And I see all this while in a coma.
She got out of the car and came closer, wondering what to do next. You can't just walk up to strangers and ask how to find the mayor. Or is it possible?
— Can I help you? — it sounded very close.
— Yes, — Alex turned around and saw a young woman. — I'm looking for…
— The hotel! — The stranger smiled. — The entrance to it is on the other side. I can escort you.
— No, thanks... — Alex thought.
— Ruby. My name is Ruby. And you?
— And I ... Alex, — the young girl took off her glove and held out her hand to shake.
— Welcome to Storybrooke, Alex,— Ruby shook it with pleasure. — By the way, there will be a holiday in the city today. Will you come?
— I'll think about it, thanks.
The scarf had slipped a little from her face, exposing the scar above her lip. Ruby noticed him and changed her face a little. Alex even thought, for a second, that the young woman's eyes had changed color to yellow.
Zeus turned sharply to the caretaker of the garden.
— So! Once again: where did he come from? — His finger poked at the stranger.
— From the Fountain Of Love. On the last day of the month of Gamelion.
— Well, well, — Zeus nodded his head. — Now.
He walked over to the pile of scrolls and began to unwrap them again, look at them and fold them again.
— I found it! "The power of true love, on the day of its heyday, multiplied by the sacrifice, in the presence of Dignus miraculo* drowned in life-giving waters are able to create miracles that even deities are not capable of."
— Zeus, forgive me, but what is "Dignus miraculo"?
— You're a bad caretaker of the garden! — Zeus lightly slapped the man on the shoulder. — You don't know elementary things! Look, there's a flower tangled in his hair. It's him. That's it's called.
Alex hurried to her car to get her things and put the glove in her pocket on the way. But she fell out of there, the young girl didn't even notice it. She decided to stay here for a short time, for a week, and then decide what to do next. Ruby noticed the glove, picked it up and was about to call out to the girl, but someone rather rudely poked her in the shoulder. Ruby turned around and barely suppressed a sigh. Her wife was standing next to her.
— Really thought you'd run away like this, and I wouldn't understand where?
— Dorothy, — Ruby said wearily. — Stop it, I went to visit my grandmother.
— Yeah. I didn't know you had such a young grandmother, — Dorothy nodded towards the retreating young girl.
— You're annoying with your jealousy, "Kansas",— Ruby hugged her wife.— But I thought you were coming later.
— Later? — Dorothy asked.
— By the beginning of the holiday, — Dorothy looked still uncomprehendingly. — Valentine's Day. Fourteenth of February.
— So you wanted to... — a little remorse slipped into Dorothy's voice.
— Surpriiise. — Ruby said and kissed her wife on the cheek.— But I'm glad you're here. Come, I've got a corner room on the second floor. It's very cozy there.
Storybrooke. Forest on the outskirts of the city
Lucy was walking through the trees. Then she saw a stump and sat down on it, propping my head with my hands. She was thinking and noticed that someone was coming towards her when footsteps sounded very close. She looked up and saw Roland.
— Hi,— He said. — What are you doing here?
— Hiding. "Grandpapi" wanted to take me home, but he was in a hurry, and I assured him that I would get home myself.
— Hmm,— Roland smiled. — And who is this - "grandpapi"?
— This is my great-grandfather. He's my father's grandfather and... well, it's complicated. And you?
— And I wanted to practice. In shooting, — the guy showed a bow and a quiver with arrows. — My father's fame is great, but I am far from him. My sister is doing better. I would - not disgrace myself.
— You're lying! You're a good shot, I'm sure! — Lucy assured him fervently.
— You're just like your father. The power of faith,— the guy smiled good - naturedly.
— Oh, — the teenager grimaced, — just don't talk about Dad.
— Okay,— Roland nodded. — Come on, I'll still take you home, no matter how much you swear, you have to remember that he loves you. And he's probably going crazy there.
— What makes you think we had a fight? — Lucy asked.
— Because I was your age. You wouldn't be walking here alone if everything was fine with you,— Roland said and sighed. — I'd like to talk to my father…
Suddenly there was a sharp pop, and a wave of energy passed through the forest. Lucy and Roland looked at each other, then they heard someone coming towards them. Lucy hid behind Roland, and the guy picked up the bow. A man in sandals and a toga came out to them, he was clearly freezing and rubbing his shoulders.
— Kiddies,— he said,— how far is it to Storybrooke? I was told to go there. But I feel that I won't get there.
Roland stared and lowered his bow.
— Dad?! - He asked.
Storybrooke. The mansion at 108 Mifflin Street.
Regina walked around the living room and looked at her son. The woman was frowning. She was frowning a highly.
— What do you mean, she didn't come? — she asked. — I personally put her with David. Henry, what happened? Did you have a fight?
— Yeah,— Henry breathed. — But she's a teenager, I just don't know…
Regina's phone rang. She picked up the phone and her face brightened.
— Lucy! Where are you, honey? Me and Dad… In the forest? Wait, take your time... yeah. I will be right now.
Regina ended the conversation and turned to her son.
— I need something of Lucy's stuff.
— Why? — Henry asked.
— For a search spell. I don't want to wander all over the forest.
— What's she doing there? — Henry was surprised.
— The sooner I get there, the sooner we'll figure it out.
Henry brought Regina a striped scarf. The scarf was black and pink.
— Hmm, almost like you once had ... — Regina said, then cast a spell and disappeared with lilac smoke.
Soon, lilac smoke began to swirl in the living room of the mansion again. And three people appeared there. An unconscious man was lying on the couch, Regina and Lucy were standing next to him. The girl noticed her father and came over.
— How's Mom? — She asked. — Grandma said she wasn't well.
— Oh, you took care of it! — Henry said. — When you didn't come home, she started to get nervous. I gave her a sedative. She's in her room, if you're interested!
The girl ran out of the living room with tears in her eyes and ran to her mother's room.
— Henry, when did you become so callous? — Regina was sitting on the couch next to the man and stroking his hand.
— I'm not callous. It's just...— Henry glanced at the man. — Is this Robin Hood? Why is he wearing clothes from ancient Rome?
The hotel "Granny's"
Mr. Gold was nervous. Belle noticed her husband's mood and patted him on the shoulder.
— What's the matter with you, Rumpel?— She asked.
— I can't just sit there and do nothing, knowing that my child is... out there somewhere! — He sighed heavily.
— We'll find her, Regina will help if anything. I think it's something else. You think - she'll forgive you?
— That, too. I don't even know how to start a conversation with her. "I'm sorry, I didn't know I had a daughter, and I also died a little."
— Yeah. — Belle giggled. — I'm sorry, but this is ridiculous.
— I understand that myself,— Mr. Gold smiled. — Can we at least try to find out something?
— How? I would have found it in books.
Mr. Gold looked at his reflection in the mirror that stood next to the bed and pointed at it with his finger.
— And if so? — He asked.
— It would be possible if you knew what she looks like. Are there any other options?
— I'd like to go to my shop. I wonder if he's still working? You could always get hold of magic there,— Mr. Gold stood up resolutely, but Belle grabbed his sleeve.
— Rumpel, —she said doubtfully. — This your magic. Will I be able to use it?
— What nonsense! Magic is magic. Of course you can! Let's go, at least try.
Storybrooke. The mansion at 108 Mifflin Street.
— So he needs to go to the hospital, Mom! — Henry looked at the man.
— Yes, I know. I've already sent Roland to get Dr. Whale, — Regina nodded. — Still in the forest.
— What do you mean, "still in the forest"? — Henry fumed. — Was he there too? With Lucy?!
— Henry,— Regina looked at her son in bewilderment. — What's wrong with you? The girl has her first crush. Leave her alone.
— Isn't it a little early? At her age...— Henry began.
— You were exactly the same at her age. Or have you forgotten about Violet? By the way, where did she go? You've been inseparable.
— She went back to Connecticut with her father, but it doesn't matter! I'm her father, and I have to...
— Be understanding and considerate. And you behave like a tyrant and dictator. Tell me, what's the matter?
— I don't know what you're talking about,— Henry shrugged.
— Of course, I'm not Emma, with her gift, but I feel that you're lying to me.
— Ella,— Henry sighed and waved his hands.— She's... there's something going on with her. She's been kind of weird these days. And I... I'm just afraid of losing her.… And now we're fighting with Lucy…
— Henry! — Regina walked over to her son and hugged him. — What nonsense! You certainly have the heart of a true believer! Honey, it's gonna be okay. And Lucy is just a teenager. They're all like that!
They stood there, hugging each other, Regina stroking his back, and Henry felt calmer. Always such hugs of the mother calm the children. Even adults.
Storybrooke. The hotel "Granny's".
Alex was sitting in a chair and looking around the room.
"Yeah, it's older inside than it is outside. Indeed, it was as if I had come to visit grandmother.
She glanced at the cane. She came over and picked it up.
"Magic!" the young girl said mentally. "Help me find my mother."
She even squeezed her eyes shut, but nothing happened. The young girl chuckled, and immediately someone knocked on the door. Alex shuddered and went to open it. Ruby was standing outside the door.
— Hello, Alex,— Ruby said. — Will I come in?
— Yes, of course, — she let the young girl inside. — Is something wrong?
— No. I just thought you might be bored in an unfamiliar city, — Ruby noticed the cane in the young girl's hand. — What a charm, where did you get it?
— This is a gift, — the young girl evaded the answer. — And what is it that catches your eye? That I'm not a local?
— That's not the point,— Ruby said. — Locals usually don't rent rooms in hotels.
Alex laughed nervously and put her cane against the wall. Ruby took a closer look at the cane and inhaled a couple of times.
— Ruby, are you all right? — Alex asked.
— Entirely... — Ruby replied, not taking her eyes off the cane, and muttered. — What a familiar smell.
— Excuse me, what? — Alex looked at the young woman in bewilderment. — The smell?
— Yes! — Ruby caught herself and looked into the young girl's eyes. — What kind of perfume do you have?
— I don't wear perfume — the girl replied.
— So it seemed, — Ruby smiled a little fake. — Have you decided about the holiday? Will you come? We can all go together. There will be contests, different games, archery, for sure. And, most likely, a bunch of other interesting things.
— What do you mean, "all together"? — Alex asked.
— My wife came to see me. It starts in two hours,— Ruby said.
— I haven't decided yet,— Alex replied and escorted her guest out of the room.
Left alone, she decided that apparently everyone here is very strange. Starting with Sidney and ending with Ruby.